Grandpa Bill Burch

A letter I wanted to share from my grandpa's friend Gary Dollar. He has been friends with my grandpa for many years and learned to carve my grandpa's boloties to one day take over what he has started. It's comforting to read about my grandpa's last few hours. I wish I could have been there.

From Gary Dollar

Our dear friend Bill Burch passed away peacefully this morning at home around 4:00 am. Laura, Ashley and I were able to spend a couple of hours last night with him. Betty and Barbara (daughter) said that he had been sleeping and probably wouldn't wake for me, because of the medications he had been given, but that we could sit with him. I held his hand and talked to him for 10 to 15 minutes and then kissed him on his forehead. He awoke immediately and said "hi Gary". He then smiled and laughed a bit and stayed awake while I helped him get into his p-jays then helped him get settled into a hospital bed that was brought in to help him to be more comfortable. He didn't say much but he smiled at me and laughed at my kidding's. Once we got him comfortable in his new bed he slipped into a peaceful sleep and that is the way he stayed until his passing.

I am so grateful that Bill and I were able to travel and share so much of our lives together over the last 24 years. I consider the past 5 to 10 years an added bonus while his health was so frail. Even as difficult as it was health wise for Bill he always wanted to be around the young men and boys to sharing a bolo and a story. Bill was always good for a story and the fun part was you could listen to the same story over and over and it was just as inspiring as the first time.

His wooden toys were the best, and always a hit. His "round-to-its" will be as memorable as the bolos and will be a tradition that my sweet wife Laura and I will continue as we go forward with Bill's work and mission of carving and providing the bolos/stories and commitments that made Bill an icon across this land and many nations of the world.

His funeral will be held on Monday. As we find out the funeral time I will forward it on and would gratefully ask that you each forward it to your friends that knew and loved Bill as I did. I'm hoping that at his funeral all the seats will be full with people standing in the halls or as Bill would say, "Dancing in the halls". 

A favorite of Bill's stories was at his mother's passing where she said to him "Bill you know how I have always loved to travel? Well this next journey will be a dozy". Bill has now taken his "journey" and I know his dear mother was right there to show him around – I bet Betty that he had a pocket knife "Boker to be exact" in his hand.

Thank you for your love and prayers,

Gary S. and Laura Dollar

My amazing Grandpa

 Love you Grandpa Burch.

Bojangles

Chipmunk is in the ivy.

Who can find him?

The chipmunk ended up jumping up to the cat... maybe they were really friends.

 Bojangles is actually a fast food place here but we call everything it including our cat. Not sure what the cats real name is but Bojangles will work for now. Last night Jacob got home and told me to come down because Bojangles caught a chipmunk. So here are a few pictures of the attack... I don't think he killed him in the end because he really isn't a killer. We have tried to have him kill frogs before and he didn't really care. Plus when I was leaving after watching him for a min the chipmunk was 6 inches away from the cat cleaning his face... Meet Bojangles.

Real life

This is what we really do all the time. Jacob studies and I...

make crafts during the day and cook. Here I transferred some pictures onto canvas. Turned about pretty cool.

When it rains it pours

Here is our normal rain. A LOT!! Look under the bike behind me. You can see how much is hitting the deck.

Hiding in Jacob's rain jacket. Left mine in the car.

No comment.

Good photography skills Jacob. Fun to see his pictures.

I wasn't out to long and I was drenched.

Our beautiful kitchen and my sassy face. I don't remember him taking this picture. I just found it on the camera.

Leafs are falling more and more. I like to sweep the deck almost daily. I keep finding these pictures on the camera that Jacob takes so I like to share them.

Weekend to Highlands

Waterfall on the highway

Nothing really

Pretty decorations in town.

Our friends. He runs on our roof and jumps to the tree. I hear it a few times a day. Pretty dang funny. 

Jacob captured this the other day. He was taking pictures of the moth that just got caught in the spiders web and this huge bee came and took the moth away as the spider was going to get it. It was crazy. 

Lake Emory

Lake Emory. Where we like to take walks.

It's actually a river despite the name.

Giggin

We went giggin last night in the backyard. Yes all these huge frog, turtle, fish, spiders, etc. live 15ft away.  A rush of adrenaline for sure! Scared me to death. Andy and Jacob thought it was entertaining, but I was freaking out! Something about catching huge frogs scares me. I am willing to fight through the fear and try it. Might take me a few nights to build up the courage to catch my own. Andy caught this for me to hold. So fun!

Jacob kept telling me to get closer. Scary

I mad the guys touch his legs before I had enough courage. 

Little froggy... wait wait wait huge froggy!

Our new home

Jacob's bucket list

Tallest waterfall around here 411ft.

Trying some crafts

Attaching some photo's to wood. Turned out pretty cute and was easy to do.

Let it dry overnight and start taking it off the next day with water.

Start rubbing the paper off to reveal the image.

My samples. Not bad.

They have a rustic look that I like.

Boys/guys/men/dudes/friends

Friend LOVE

 Silly guys.

 I only published this one for Lada.

 So cute.

 Love my girl friends.

 Guys helping us climb down.

 Corey helping with the dress.

Thank you friends for all coming.